Scott Bowden presents Kentucky Fried Rasslin

In Memphis, the fireworks usually started before the 4th of July. (Clipping courtesy of memphiswrestlinghistory.com.)

Although not in the same league as the annual Cow Palace tradition in San Francisco, Memphis had great success in the ’80s with the “Two-Ring, Triple-Chance” battle royal gimmick. On these nights, two rings were set up, with each man eliminated from the first ring going to the second ring. The last man standing in ring one would face the survivor of ring two for a one-on-one showdown to determine the winner.

On July 2, 1984, the promotion jazzed up the concept and dubbed it “Slamm-A-Bamma-Ramma,” featuring such contestants as Jerry Lawler, Randy Savage, Tommy Rich, Eddie Gilbert, Austin Idol, Lanny Poffo, Jim Neidhart and “Ravishing” Rick Rude (who was coming into his own as a headlining heel). A week after drawing a crowd of  approximately 10,000 for the June 25th card headlined by the Road Warriors vs. Lawler and Idol for the National tag titles, the unique two-ring gimmick drew a healthy crowd of nearly 7,000 fans to the Mid-South Coliseum.

The end came down to the King (shocking, I know) and the Ravishing One, culminating with a battle-royal finish unlike any other and turning up the heat quite literally on the Lawler vs. Rude feud.